See, it's so difficult to say 'I think he's full of shit' without the implication being 'I think that everything he's telling you about past lives and angels and fairies and distance healing is full of shit, and that you're deluding yourself.'

Um.

Because when she talks about all this malarky, I just make interested and non-commital noises. (Much as I would if it were any other belief-system to which I do not subscribe.) I mean, he does this whole answer-a-question-with-a-question thing...but it's not because it's Yoda, it's because he doesn't know the answer, and wants to give a facade of depth. And people who have spent $200+ on a course WANT to believe that it's real, and that they're special, and that they're seers, or they were an Egyptian sorceress in a former life, or whatever. So they believe that he holds the secrets of the universe.

headdesk

Hey, I'm not saying that there are no seers, no past lives, no fairies - just because it's outside my experience doesn't make it invalid, and I have other friends who have had plenty of spooky ghostly experiences. There are more things between heaven and earth and all that. I'm just saying that THIS bloke is talking a load of shite, and that I trust him about as far as I could throw Canterbury Cathedral.

As to asking for remuneration...I don't know, Jars. If it were something she was doing for herself, I'd have no qualms about helping her out, and wouldn't be asking for a share of any profits. But I actively don't want to help him. Argh.

See, if I were more like Cordelia, this wouldn't be happening to me. 'Cause I'd just be saying 'Nope, you're full of shit' to his face, rather than being polite and asking pointed questions, and I'd have already said 'I think he's ripping you off'. Argh. Tact=not for the win.

Could you not mention the whole bullshitty thing at all, and just say that you don't feel comfortable with his personality, but you totally understand why she does, etc.? Or, again, maybe just say that you're busy, and avoid conflict at all, which is probably what I'd do. Lies! They make the world go around!

Lies! They make the world go around!

Yeah, who am I kidding? I'll just run away and prevaricate if cornered.

Lies! They make the world go around!

So true!

So, I just got an e-mail in response to a poll I sent out, requesting guest availability for dates and times for a presentation on my and my friend J's theses. Well, one of the people e-mailed me back and said, "Any of these times are fine. Just let me know. I didn't take the poll." Um...the whole purpose of the poll is so I have that information in ONE PLACE. VOTE, DAMMIT!

I'm gonna go vote for him.

If it were me, I'd just go the "That's really too big a project for me to take on right now" route. Lies are the lubricant that makes civilization possible.

I think people have to wake up from that type of delusion on their own. I don't think there's any point in trying to talk her out of it, unless she's about to give all her money to this guy and quit her job to go on a quest for fairies.

Fay, can't you just say that you don't have the kind of free time that such a project would require? t edit (x-post with Ginger!) Or do you also want to address the "What are you DOING?!?" aspect of it as well?

I think Steph now has a Lucy clone too, but hers uses an alias.

Kato, the vampire slayer.

Or you could say you don't like him without bringing up all the other stuff you're afraid she'll take personally. I mean... nothing wrong with not liking people.

Fay, I rather like the idea of deflecting the book-edit request with, "Nope, sorry, can't possibly," while making vague noises about not having the time to devote to it. If she is so enthusiastic she starts sounding like she won't take no for an answer, tell her, "There is something about this guy's energy that feels off to me. My heart tells me the vibes that would come through his words would be inimical to my highest path. And I really must listen to my own intuition on this."

All your feelings about him aside, she's asking you to do something people get paid for, for no remuneration, yes? Without any prevarication, I'd say you really DON'T have the time!

I'm feeling really cranky today. Like REALLY cranky. Like John-Wesley-Hardin-kill-a-man-just-fer-snorin' cranky.

What's up with that?